Keys to a Healthy Diet

As we march ahead into 2013, this is a good time to
renew our commitment to healthier living. Our health is
one of the most important aspects of our lives. With
healthy bodies, we are able to live life to the fullest and
enjoy every moment.

Maintaining a healthy diet is fundamental to healthy
living, so here are 3 keys to a healthy diet.

1. Get plenty of fibre. Dietary fibre provides nutrition,
is filling and relatively low in calories. High-fibre foods
include things like apples, carrots, beans and peas,
and whole grains. One of the greatest benefits of
fibre is that it lowers blood cholesterol and blood
glucose levels. Fibre is an essential and vital part of
a healthy, balanced diet.

2. Make your meals colourful. Green, yellow and
orange fruits and vegetables, such as carrots,
broccoli and melon provide valuable antioxidants and
other nutrients. These types of foods may help the body protect
against cancers and other diseases. Ideally you should
eat 5 servings per day.

3. Limit your sugar. Sugary foods, refined grain
products like white bread and salty snacks
are typically calorie-packed. These types
of foods are usually convenience type
food that offer very little in the way
nutrition and actually work against a
healthy and balanced diet. Just one can
of pop per day may add up to 16 pounds
of weight a year.

Small changes to our diet can have a
lasting and measurable impact on the
quality of our life. Over the next couple of
issues of the Balance we'll share more
keys to a healthy diet.

Spring Time!

March is the month of Spring. March 20th marks the first day of spring in Canada in 2013. Also known as the vernal equinox, the first day of spring brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures and the re-emergence of nature.

Depending on where you live in Canada, the signs of spring will start to appear – worms will emerge, ladybugs will appear, green buds will start to show themselves and flowers, like snowdrops, will bloom. Next time you're out and about take note of how Spring is revealing it's self in your region.

High-fibre Hitter

Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet is one of the most
beneficial steps that you can take towards improving your
over-all health. Making changes to your lifestyle doesn't have
to be monumental – it really can start with one small step each
day. Here's a simple recipe that takes just minutes to prepare.

Blueberry Yogurt

1 cup of plain yogurt

1 cup of fruit (you can use frozen blueberries, pineapple or peaches)

¾ cup of skim milk

1 teaspoon of honey

Blend all ingredients with 1 cup of ice and enjoy.

Boosting the Cash Flow

Marcia P. was looking for extra cash and to pay less interest by
consolidating credit card debt, “I had no concerns about going
to Capital Direct for my mortgage.” Marcia was able to pay
down high interest debt and bring it all together under one loan.

March Sudoku

Capital Direct's Eco-friendly Calculator

Do you know how large your home’s eco-footprint is? Under the ecoEnergy Retrofit program, homeowners can take advantage of available grants when improving the energy efficiency of their home. Not only will you be reducing your home's energy consumption but you can receive money back through available grants.

Visit Capital Direct's Eco-friendly Calculator online at, http://www.capitaldirect.ca/eco-calculator. Calculate the environmental impact of your household and find out ways of reducing it, then give us a call to learn how we can help you apply for available retrofit grants.

Request our new booklet: Borrowing for Success

Learn how you can use your home equity to your greatest advantage.
To receive your FREE copy of this informative new booklet, email us at yourteam@capitaldirect.ca with the subject line: “New Guide Request”. Please include your full name and postal address, and we'll send you a copy via Canada Post.

Discover how you can make the most of home ownership!
Visit us at www.CapitalDirect.ca for more information.